Calling all Fromage Fans: Paris Celebrates its First Cheese Day

“How can anyone govern a nation that has 246 different kinds of cheese?” said General de Gaulle. Wonder what he’d think of the first ever Cheese Day when the “gratin” of the world’s cheesemakers will gather at the achingly posh Pavillon Ledoyen! And as there’s no cheese without wine– add winemakers, tastings, master classes and lots of animation to the delicious program. In tandem, Yannick Alléno– Ledoyen’s Michelin three-star chef– is offering 100% cheese menus (35€) at his excellent Terroir Parisien restaurants. And so is Fréderic Vardon from the kitchens of his chic penthouse restaurant just off the Champs Elysées. A fleet of Renault cars will be on hand to ferry cheese-o-philes between Pavillon Ledoyen and the two restaurants. “We’re celebrating not only French cheese but cheeses from all over the world, it’s very exciting”, says chef Alléno. Top chefs and sommeliers participating include:  Yannick Alléno du Pavillon Ledoyen, Pierre Gagnaire (*** Michelin), Arnaud Lallement:  L’Assiette Champenoise (*** Michelin), Mathieu Pacaud: l’Hexagone et l’Ambroisie (*** Michelin), Alain Dutournier: Carré des Feuillants (** Michelin), Guy Martin: Grand Véfour (** Michelin), Alain Pégouret du Laurent (* Michelin), Frédéric Vardon: 39V  (* Michelin), Jean-Pierre Vigato d’Apicius (*Michelin), Philippe Faure Brac, Meilleur Sommelier du Monde (1992) and owner of Bistrot du Sommelier, Paris.  Olivier Poussier, Meilleur Sommelier du Monde (2000) et head sommelier at La Maison Lenôtre et du Pré Catelan. Say cheese! January 25th, 2016: Cheese Day from 11am-7pm, price 15€. Cheese Night 7pm-11pm, price 10€. Book tickets on-line: www.weezevent.com/cheese-day Pavillon Ledoyen, 8 Avenue Dutuit, 8th. Tel: +33 (0)1 53 05 10 01. www.cheeseday.fr Photo credits: Fromage by karaian/Flickr